Impossible alone

Do you think having competitors is a good thing?

A mentor once told me that even when we work on the same team with the same goals, in some ways we’re also competing with each other. I find that idea fascinating. If a colleague holds the same role as you, will you spend your energy supporting them to grow—or pushing yourself to get ahead?

I believe both can happen at once. One of the best ways to grow is by helping others grow. And when it comes to innovation, it’s a team sport. Talented teammates aren’t competitors—they’re sparring partners who push me further than I could go alone.

Strong competitors keep me improving. Being the best in the room only makes me stagnant. I don’t fear losing; I fear standing still. That’s why I’m excited to support teammates, even when they’re also my competitors—because they raise the standard I measure myself against.

In the end, we’re all playing a team sport. If the team wins, we all win. I want to work with people far better than me. The competitors I truly fear are the weak ones—because they can trick you into playing the wrong game, on the wrong field.

It’s better to lose the right game than to win the wrong one.